I
s a book written in 2012 by Chris Perez, her husband before her death. Chris had finally decided to write a book about his perspective on his life with music superstar Selena Quintanilla Perez. He talks about their young friendship, forbidden intimate relationship, marriage, family and sadly his tragic loss. Chris also shows Selena in a very personal light, not only as a talented singer but as his wife & that’s exactly why he wrote this book.
“She deserves to be remembered not only for her beautiful voice and talent as an entertainer, but as a real woman who loved the ordinary everyday things..Selena loved as hard as she lived. We loved her in return-her family, her friends, her fans, and me, her husband, who felt like the luckiest man alive every time Selena said my name. This book is for her.”
-Chris Perez
WHO IS SELENA?
Selena was a Mexican-American Singer, song-writer, dancer, actress & fashion designer. She started her career as the lead singer of her family’s band named Selena y Los Dinos. Although Selena knew very little Spanish, her father(manager) made her sing in that language to fit in with the Latin community. Selena & her music became very popular to the point where she was known as the “Mexican Madonna” & “The Queen of Tejano Music.”
Selena was also considered Gold Status meaning she sold over 500,000 records, won a Grammy for Best Mexican-American album(1993), Best Female Vocalist of the Year(1987), Performer of the Year(1987) & many more that would lead to an English-language album. Selena then married her lead guitarist CHris Perez in 1992 & planned on having a future with him. But on March 31st, 1995 Selena was shot in the back by Yolanda Saldivar. A “good friend” & also founder of Selenas Fan Club. She killed the singer at only 23 years old.
Selena was an inspiration to many Hispanic-American people including myself. I have been a Selena fan since I was a little girl and still admire the person she was and what she could have become. Selena was a very talented woman who broke many boundaries for Women, rebel teens with conservative parents, school children & Mexican-American Artists. She believed anything was possible & you can be ambitious without leaving your family behind.
She did not deserve to leave us the way she did, but I was glad to read ‘To Selena, With Love’ because it showed me more of who she was off stage & everything that happened behind the scenes that most people dont know about. You get to see Selena froma different perspective which I think is very unique. I am very glad Chris put out this book because it helped me see Selena as a spontaneous, courageous, sexy and humble young woman. Its such a tragic love story. I cried multiple time reading the book & I still cry everytime I watch the movie.
This book is for anyone. Chris pours out his heart in this book and most importantly shows how much he loved his wife very much. Althought the story has a sad ending Chris shows how he managed to get through the hard times with music and the true meaning of love, taught to him by Selena.
There is one part of the book I recall when Selena begged Chris to come over and listen to her record a song which was ‘Dreaming of you'( in the studio) but he was very busy and was unable to go. Little did he know that she would be gone the next day. Selena wrote that song for him, so I loved how he ended the book saying “Selena, I’m still dreaming of you.”
Bloom Wildly 